Tool box structure

ABSTRACT

A tool box structure includes a body defining a receiving space therein, a magnetic conducting plate received in the receiving space of the body, and a magnetic material received in the receiving space of the body and located under the magnetic conducting plate. By such an arrangement, the magnetic material is in contact with the magnetic conducting plate so that a magnetic force from the magnetic material is distributed on an entire region of the magnetic conducting plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a tool box structure, and more particularly to a tool box structure for rigidly retaining therein small parts such as screws, nuts, bolts, screwdriver bits or the like.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Prior Art

[0004] A conventional tool box in accordance with the prior art comprises a plurality of small parts such as screws, nuts, bolts, screwdriver bits or the like contained therein. However, it is not easy to take out the small part from the tool box due to its little volume, thereby causing inconvenience during use. In addition, the small parts tend to move or slip in the tool box, thereby breaking the order of other tools contained in the tool box. Further, when the small parts are taken out from the tool box for use, no positioning device is provided for retaining the small parts in place so that they tend to roll randomly, thereby greatly causing inconvenience and difficulty to the user during working.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional tool box.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tool box structure comprising:

[0007] a body defining a receiving space therein;

[0008] a magnetic conducting plate received in the receiving space of the body; and

[0009] a magnetic material received in the receiving space of the body and located under the magnetic conducting plate;

[0010] wherein, the magnetic material is in contact with the magnetic conducting plate so that a magnetic force from the magnetic material is distributed on an entire region of the magnetic conducting plate.

[0011] The receiving space of the body has a mediate portion defining a recess for securing the magnetic material therein.

[0012] The tool box structure further comprises a cover pivotally mounted on the body for enclosing the receiving space of the body. The body is provided with two spaced opposite elongated support bars each defining a pivot hole, and the cover is supported on the two support bars and is provided with two spaced opposite pivot axles each pivotally mounted in the pivot hole of a respective one of the two support bars so that the cover is pivoted on the body between the two support bars.

[0013] The tool box structure further comprises an auxiliary magnetic conducting plate received in the receiving space of the body and beneath the magnetic material, wherein the magnetic material is in contact with the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate so that a magnetic force from the magnetic material is distributed on an entire region of the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate.

[0014] The body is provided with a flange located in the receiving space for supporting the magnetic conducting plate. The flange of the body defines an elongated slot for securing the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate with the magnet material being rested between the magnetic conducting plate and the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate.

[0015] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tool box structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the tool box structure as shown in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a schematic operational view of the tool box structure as shown in FIG. 2 in use;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic operational view of the tool box structure as shown in FIG. 2 in use;

[0020]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a tool box structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021]FIG. 6 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the tool box structure as shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tool box structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a body 10 defining a receiving space 12 therein, a magnetic conducting plate 22 received in the receiving space 12 of the body 10, and a magnetic material 20 such as a permanent magnet received in the receiving space 12 of the body 10 and located under the magnetic conducting plate 22.

[0023] In such a manner, the magnetic material 20 is in contact with the magnetic conducting plate 22 so that the magnetic force supplied from the magnetic material 20 is evenly distributed on the entire region of the magnetic conducting plate 22.

[0024] The receiving space 12 of the body 10 has a mediate portion defining a recess 14 for securing the magnetic material 20 therein.

[0025] A cover 15 is pivotally mounted on the body 10 for enclosing the receiving space 12 of the body 10. The body 10 is provided with two spaced opposite elongated support bars 11 each defining a pivot hole 110. The cover 15 is supported on the two support bars 11, and is provided with two spaced opposite pivot axles 150 each pivotally mounted in the pivot hole 110 of the support bar 11 so that the cover 15 is pivoted on the body 10 between the two support bars 11.

[0026] In practice, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic conducting plate 22 is in contact with the magnetic material 20 so that the magnetic force concentrated on the magnetic material 20 can be evenly distributed on the entire region of the magnetic conducting plate 22. In such a manner, a plurality of screwdriver bits 30 can be attached on the entire surface of the magnetic conducting plate 22, thereby providing a positioning effect to retain the screwdriver bits 30 in place without free movement. In addition, the screwdriver bit 30 attached on the surface of the magnetic conducting plate 22 obtains a temporary magnetic force so that the screwdriver bit 30 can be used to attract a small part such as a screw, a nut, a nail or the like.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, small parts such as bolts 32, nuts 34, and screws 36 can be attached on the entire surface of the magnetic conducting plate 22 so as to provide a positioning effect for retaining the small parts in place without free movement, thereby preventing the small parts from sliding or moving arbitrarily during working, and thereby facilitating the operator using the small parts.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, an auxiliary magnetic conducting plate 24 is received in the receiving space 12 of the body 10 and is located beneath the magnetic material 20.

[0029] The body 10 is provided with a flange 16 located in the receiving space 12 for supporting the magnetic conducting plate 22. The flange 16 of the body 10 defines an elongated slot 18 for securing therein the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate 24 with the magnet material 20 being rested between the magnetic conducting plate 22 and the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate 24.

[0030] By such an arrangement, the magnetic material 20 is in contact with the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate 24 so that the magnetic force supplied from the magnetic material 20 is also evenly distributed on the entire region of the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate 24.

[0031] Accordingly, the magnetic force distributed on the entire surface of the auxiliary magnetic conducting plate 24 can be used to co-operate with that distributed on the entire surface of the magnetic conducting plate 22, thereby providing an auxiliary positioning effect to further retain the parts on the surface of the magnetic conducting plate 22 rigidly and stably.

[0032] It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool box structure comprising: a body (10) defining a receiving space (12) therein; a magnetic conducting plate (22) received in said receiving space (12) of said body (10); and a magnetic material (20) received in said receiving space (12) of said body (10) and located under said magnetic conducting plate (22); wherein, said magnetic material (20) is in contact with said magnetic conducting plate (22) so that a magnetic force from said magnetic material (20) is distributed on an entire region of said magnetic conducting plate (22).
 2. The tool box structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said magnetic material (20) is a permanent magnet.
 3. The tool box structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving space (12) of said body (10) has a mediate portion defining a recess (14) for securing said magnetic material (20) therein.
 4. The tool box structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a cover (15) pivotally mounted on said body (10) for enclosing said receiving space (12) of said body (10).
 5. The tool box structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein said body (10) is provided with two spaced opposite elongated support bars (11) each defining a pivot hole (110), and said cover (15) is supported on said two support bars (11) and is provided with two spaced opposite pivot axles (150) each pivotally mounted in said pivot hole (110) of a respective one of said two support bars (11) so that said cover (15) is pivoted on said body (10) between said two support bars (11).
 6. The tool box structure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary magnetic conducting plate (24) received in said receiving space (12) of said body (10) and beneath said magnetic material (20), wherein said magnetic material (20) is in contact with said auxiliary magnetic conducting plate (24) so that a magnetic force from said magnetic material (20) is distributed on an entire region of said auxiliary magnetic conducting plate (24).
 7. The tool box structure in accordance with claim 6, wherein said body (10) is provided with a flange (16) located in said receiving space (12) for supporting said magnetic conducting plate (22).
 8. The tool box structure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said flange (16) of said body (10) defines an elongated slot (18) for securing said auxiliary magnetic conducting plate (24) with said magnet material (20) being rested between said magnetic conducting plate (22) and said auxiliary magnetic conducting plate (24). 